26.04.12

1994 Group appoints Alex Bols as new Executive Director

The
1994 Group of leading universities has appointed Alex Bols, currently Assistant
Director (Research) and Head of Higher Education at the NUS, as its new Executive
Director.

Professor
Michael Farthing, Chair of the 1994 Group and Vice Chancellor at the University
of Sussex, said:

“I
am delighted that we have been able to make this strong new appointment to the
post of Executive Director for the 1994 Group. Alex’s insight and experience
will be invaluable to the group, having worked over the last 12 years for both
Universities UK and the NUS, as well as for a European-wide student group.

“Alex
is respected throughout higher education and has been involved in some of the
most important policy reforms of recent years.In particular, Alex has been closely involved in measures to put the
student experience at the heart of higher education. This an agenda to which
the 1994 Group is firmly committed.

“I
am confident that as the Group continues to champion a research-led
high-quality student experience and extends its influence in UK HE development,
Alex will prove an excellent Executive Director.”

Alex
Bols said:

“The
future of higher education in this country is wide open, with the Government’s
radical policy reforms only just starting to take root. Institutions that
combine world class research with outstanding teaching need to be at the
forefront of Government thinking, and the value they offer students and wider
society needs to be fully recognised. 1994 Group universities exemplify these
features and have collectively offered one of the most constructive and
innovative voices in higher education. It’s
an honour to be taking up this role with such a prestigious group of
institutions and I look forward to working with them to build on the success
they have already achieved.”

Alex
Bols will formally take up the position of 1994 Group Executive Director in
June 2012.

1. The 1994 Group represents the UK’s leading student-focused
research-intensive universities. It was established in 1994 to promote
excellence in University research and teaching.

2. 9 of
the top 20 universities in the Guardian University Guide 2012 league tables are
1994 Group members. 5 of the top 20 universities in the 2012 Sunday Times
University League Table are 1994 Group members. 6 of the top 20 universities in
the 2012 Complete University Guide are 1994 Group members. The University of
Bath is the Sunday Times University of the year.

3. The 1994Group represents: University of Bath, Birkbeck University of
London,University of East Anglia,
University of Essex,Goldsmiths
University of London, Institute of Education University of London, Royal
Holloway University of London, Lancaster University, University of Leicester,
Loughborough University, University of Reading, University of St Andrews,
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of Surrey, University of
Sussex.

4. Alex Bols joins
the 1994 Group from the National Union of Students, where he was Assistant
Director (Research) and Head of Higher Education. Alex was at NUS for four and
a half years leading on their research and policy on enhancing the student
learning experience. He has overseen the NUS/HSBC, and now NUS/QAA, Student
Experience Research as well as leading on NUS’ engagement developing the new
Institutional Review process in England and NI and the introduction of the Key
Information Set. He also has forthcoming book chapters later this year on both
feedback and assessment and has written and spoken extensively about the
students as partners/consumers question.

Alex
is currently a member of the UK team of Bologna Experts supporting developments
towards a European Higher Education Area and sits on numerous sector committees
including: HEFCE’s Teaching, Quality and Student Experience Strategic Advisory
Committee; Quality in HE Group; HE Public Information Steering Group; HE Better
Regulation Group; Teaching Funding Advisory Group and Performance Indicators
Steering Group; and is an Alternate Director for the Office of the Independent
Adjudicator.

Alex
has just completed his Masters in Higher and Professional Education part-time
at the Institute of Education and is also Chair of Governors in a primary
school and children’s centre – having just gone from satisfactory to good in
our recent OfSTED inspection.

Previously
he was Senior Campaigns, Conferences and Events Officer at Universities UK
working on a range of issues including producing Eureka:UK celebrating 50 years
of research in UK universities; showcasing university-business links as well as
promoting the wider public good role of universities.

Prior
to which he was based in Brussels as Secretary-General of ESIB – the National
Unions of Students in Europe (now the European Students’ Union) between
2001-2004. He was on the National Executive Committee of NUS 1999-2001 and
President and Vice-President of the students’ union at the University of
Southampton 1997-1999.